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NetBeans Desktop Application in Java

I'm learning how to designs GUI's but I realized it's something that can take ages to learn since putting component after component in the frame AND then placing them in the right position can give you a lot of work.

As you may know, NetBeans can do that for you, you don't even have to write the code, you do have to do write the functions of what you want the components to do but that's the easy part I guess.

My question is, in reality, do people at work use those Desktop Application tools? is that considered "cheating"? would you recommend creating GUIs writing line by line?

Re: NetBeans Desktop Application in Java

My impression of the GUI builders is that they are ok for one off projects that you do, use a few times and throw away but are not good for a long lived application where there will be changes. The generated GUI is impossible to change manually.

Re: NetBeans Desktop Application in Java

Yes you can always change generated java code. However sometimes it is VERY hard to figure out and once you have manually changed it, the IDE will not recognize what you have done and will require you to do it manually in the future.

Re: NetBeans Desktop Application in Java

Originally Posted by Norm

Yes you can always change generated java code. However sometimes it is VERY hard to figure out and once you have manually changed it, the IDE will not recognize what you have done and will require you to do it manually in the future.

Could you please give an example about that?
I have been using NetBeans to design GUI for my apps and I rarely have to change the code manually.